Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Pletcher Group Leads Keeneland Workers; White Abarrio Back On Track

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a total of 12 horses, all of whom are pre-entered in next weekend's Breeders' Cup races, for half-mile works at Keeneland Friday morning in advance of their Saturday departure to Santa Anita.

GII Pilgrim S. winner Agate Road (Quality Road) (Juvenile Turf) worked in company with Haul (Army Mule) in :49 flat (32/63). GI Darley Alcibiades winner Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) (NetJets Juvenile Filles) went in company with GII Chandelier runner-up Scalable (Speightstown) (Juvenile Fillies) in :49.20 (37/63).

About Candied, Pletcher said, “She worked very well. She worked on the inside of Scalable. Finished up nicely, galloped out good. She was a little late on her lead change, which has kind of been a thing with her. But she did get it the second time when Luis (Saez) asked for it. And once she did, she leveled off nicely, finished up strong and galloped out great.”

As for Pletcher's older horses, GII Suburban S. winner Charge It (Tapit) (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile) worked in :48.60 (17/63) while GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future (Curlin) (Classic or Dirt Mile) worked in company with Dreamlike (Gun Runner) (Dirt Mile or Classic) in :48.40 (9/63).

'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) (FanDuel Juvenile) went in company with Noted (Cairo Prince) (Juvenile) in :48.60 (17/63).

 

Life Talk (Gun Runner) (Juvenile Fillies) was in company with GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner) (Juvenile) in :48 flat (6/63).

“Locked just does everything so easily and effortlessly,” Pletcher said. “He's a colt that we had high expectations for when he came in. He's a very quiet, laid-back colt. Unassuming, until we got serious with him, and then it was like, wow, this is a really nice colt. I thought his debut was sneaky impressive. I thought his mile maiden win at Saratoga was the most impressive 2-year-old performance of the meet. Then to come here and win (the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity) from an outside draw and a wide trip the entire way, I thought that was a very determined effort on his part. He's done everything well since then. We've been blessed with some very good 2-year-olds, and I think that he's right there with them.”

Life's an Audible (Audible) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) ran in company with Appellate (Constitution) in :48.80 (25/63).

GI Coolmore Turf Mile winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) (Turf or Mile) breezed in company with Be You (Curlin) in :48.80 (25/63).

“Up to the Mark has had two good breezes now since his win in the (Coolmore) Turf Mile,” said Pletcher. “I thought we got what we wanted in terms of some good conditioning. Strong gallop out, seems to be doing well. We're going to continue to lean towards going in the Turf.”

At Santa Anita Friday, White Abarrio (Race Day) worked five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39). According to private clocker Gary Young, the 4-year-old went the final quarter mile in :22.80.

 

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was originally slated to work this past Monday but that drill was postponed. Connections attributed the delay to an issue with White Abarrio's shoes. Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay flew in Monday and re-shod White Abarrio. He galloped Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday's drill.

“He worked great. He cooled out great. We're thrilled,” Chip Dutrow said.

Working for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was Chatalas (Gun Runner) for trainer Mark Glatt. Winner of the GII Chandelier S. Oct. 7, the filly worked five furlongs 1:01.00 (15/39).

Trainer Peter Eurton worked a trio of 2-year-old Breeders' Cup contenders: Flattery (Flatter), Stay Hot (Summer Front) and Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flattery worked four furlongs on the training track in :48 flat (2/12). Stay Hot worked four furlongs on the training track in a bullet :47.40 (1/12). Dark Vintage worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.40 seconds (2/37).

Trainer John Sadler worked the Speakeasy winner, Slider (Jimmy Creed), who went five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39).

Working towards the Juvenile Turf was Endlessly (Oscar Performance) for trainer Michael McCarthy. He drilled four furlongs in :47.80 (8/37).

Rounding out Friday's Breeders' Cup workers were Elm Drive (Mohaymen) and Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy), who is on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Elm Drive, pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, worked five furlongs on the training track in 1:03.20 (5/6) for trainer Phil D'Amato.

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‘This Is A Really Nice Colt’: Locked Effortless In Final Breeze For Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

On Friday, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out 12 horses who are pre-entered in the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita for half-mile works on a fast track.

Pletcher, who is based primarily in New York, had about 20 horses stabled at Keeneland throughout the Fall Meet. He opted to consolidate his Breeders' Cup hopefuls at Keeneland in advance of their departure to Santa Anita on Saturday, Oct. 28.

“We had three horses that were coming off wins here that were already here,” Pletcher said, referring to Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Locked, Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner Up to the Mark and Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Candied. “I didn't think it made sense to take them back to New York then go from New York to California. I felt like the easiest thing was to consolidate here and prepare from here. I like the way that the track has been playing.”

Here are the work times for the Pletcher horses with some of the trainer's comments:

Pilgrim (G2) winner Agate Road (Juvenile Turf) in company with Haul (:49).

Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Candied (NetJets Juvenile Filles) in company with Chandelier (G2) runner-up Scalable (Juvenile Fillies) (:49.20).

Click here for a video of the work by Candied and Scalable.

About Candied, Pletcher said, “She worked very well. She worked on the inside of Scalable. Finished up nicely, galloped out good. She was a little late on her lead change, which has kind of been a thing with her. But she did get it the second time when Luis (Saez) asked for it. And once she did, she leveled off nicely, finished up strong and galloped out great.”

Suburban (G2) winner Charge It (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile) (:48.60).

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future (Classic or Dirt Mile) in company with Pennsylvania Derby (G1) runner-up Dreamlike (Dirt Mile or Classic) (:48.40; out 6 furlongs in 1:00.80).

Maiden winner Fierceness (FanDuel Juvenile) in company with Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) runner-up Noted (Juvenile) (:48.60).

Click here for a video of the work by Fierceness and Noted.

Frizette (G1) third-place finisher Life Talk (Juvenile Fillies) in company with Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Locked (Juvenile) (:48; out 6 furlongs in 1:00).

“Locked just does everything so easily and effortlessly,” Pletcher said. “He's a colt that we had high expectations for when he came in. He's a very quiet, laid-back colt. Unassuming, until we got serious with him, and then it was like, wow, this is a really nice colt. I thought his debut was sneaky impressive. I thought his mile maiden win at Saratoga was the most impressive 2-year-old performance of the meet. Then to come here and win (the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity) from an outside draw and a wide trip the entire way, I thought that was a very determined effort on his part. He's done everything well since then. We've been blessed with some very good 2-year-olds, and I think that he's right there with them.”

Miss Grillo (G2) runner-up Life's an Audible (Juvenile Fillies Turf) in company with Appellate (:48.80).

Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner Up to the Mark (Turf or Mile) in company with Be You (:48.80).

“Up to the Mark has had two good breezes now since his win in the (Coolmore) Turf Mile,” Pletcher said. “I thought we got what we wanted in terms of some good conditioning. Strong gallop out, seems to be doing well. We're going to continue to lean towards going in the Turf.”

After winning one race in five starts on dirt, Up to the Mark made his turf debut in January at Gulfstream Park. In six races on grass, he has five wins, including the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1), Resorts World Casino Manhattan (G1) and Coolmore Turf Mile in consecutive starts.

“We were frustrated because he was a horse that always trained well on the dirt,” Pletcher said about the surface switch. “He broke his maiden on debut on the dirt, and we felt like something just wasn't adding up for a horse that trained better than he was running. So once we switched to the turf, I thought his allowance win at Gulfstream was an outstanding performance. And when we saw that, we were like, wow, this might be a real grass horse. And subsequently, to do what he did and win three Grade 1s at three different distances, it's exceptional. He's been a remarkable horse.”

Also on Friday, these trainers sent their Breeders' Cup pre-entrants for half-mile works:

  • Rodolphe Brisset – Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) winner Yuugiri (PNC Bank Filly and Mare Sprint) (:48.40). She is to leave for Santa Anita on Monday, Oct. 30.
  • Ignacio Correas IV – Juddmonte Spinster (G1) runner-up Le Da Vida (CHI) (Distaff) (:49). She is to leave for Santa Anita on Monday, Oct. 30.
  • Cherie DeVaux – Jefferson Cup winner More Than Looks (Mile) in company with Zverev (:49.20); Johnnie Walker Natalma (G1) winner She Feels Pretty (Juvenile Fillies Turf) (:47.80); and Ack Ack (G3) runner-up Stage Raider (Dirt Mile) in company with Mr. Faversham (:48.40).

Click here for a video of the work by More Than Looks.

The DeVaux runners are to leave Keeneland for Santa Anita on Saturday.

The post ‘This Is A Really Nice Colt’: Locked Effortless In Final Breeze For Breeders’ Cup Juvenile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Respiratory Infection Knocks Paddington Out Of Breeders’ Cup Mile; Retired To Coolmore For 2024

The high-class miler Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}), bound for Santa Anita's GI Breeders' Cup Mile, has instead been retired directly to Coolmore Stud for the 2024 breeding season due to an elevated temperature and a respiratory infection, the stud announced on Friday. A fee for the Aidan O'Brien trainee will be revealed later.

Bred by Dayton Investments, Ltd., the four-time Group 1 winner won his second start as a juvenile, and then proceeded to take his first six races at three, including the top-level Irish 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S., Eclipse S. and the Sussex S. He was also third in York's G1 International S. A €420,000 Arqana October yearling, Paddington's record stands at 10-7-0-1 and $2,219,337 in earnings.

“To do what he did takes a very special horse,” said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. “In terms of his attitude and determination he was very similar to Giant's Causeway but Paddington was a much quicker horse. He had great tactical speed but could quicken off it. He's an unbelievable specimen who stands over an incredible amount of ground. He got physically stronger and heavier from race to race which is a very unusual thing in a thoroughbred.”

A half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftman {Ire}), Paddington is the fourth and last reported foal of his dam, the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit heroine Modern Eagle. Herself a half-sister to Listed Vintage Tipple S. heroine and G3 Loughbrown S. third Mighty Blue (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), Modern Eagle is out of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Millionaia, in turn, is a half-sister to two black-type horses, anchored by G1 Dewhurst S. second Fencing Master (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}), while their dam is G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba). This is also the family of G1 Melbourne Cup bridesmaid Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}). French champion and dual Classic winner Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}) is Paddington's great great granddam.

The post Respiratory Infection Knocks Paddington Out Of Breeders’ Cup Mile; Retired To Coolmore For 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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New Book Honours 100 Years of Naas Racecourse

A new book, The Centenary of Naas Racecourse, written by renowned historian and author Turtle Bunbury, will be released beginning on Nov. 17.

This fascinating book tells the story of the farmers and sportsmen who founded the racecourse, and touches on some of the politicians, film stars and royals who have visited over the last 100 years, including Walt Disney, Robert De Niro and Bono. There are countless stable yards and training operations around Naas, which has been at the epicentre of the Irish equestrian world for at least 260 years.

“Naas Racecourse has a tremendous story to tell,” Bunbury said. “The track has played such an important role in the evolution of Irish racing over the last 100 years. It's been the scene of some incredible sporting and historical moments and racing at Naas continues to be a major part of Irish social life generally. I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed piecing the story together.”

Known as 'The Nursery of Champions', the track has been where some of Europe's most talented horses have raced. To date, the winners of 30 Aintree Grand Nationals, 27 Cheltenham Gold Cups and eight King George VI Chase have either started their careers in Naas or raced on the track. In the past four years alone, horses have gone from Naas to the Cheltenham Festival and won the Gold Cup, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the Triumph Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice.

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the winner of this year's G1 Betfair Derby and G1 Irish Derby, got his start at Naas, as did last year's top-rated juvenile Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Since 2020, the G1 Oaks, the G1 2000 Guineas, the G1 1000 Guineas, the G1 Melbourne Cup and four Breeders' Cup races have also been won by horses who started at Naas.

“We are so proud of the history and story of Naas and are delighted that it's finally been told so eloquently by Turtle Bunbury,” Dermot Cantillon, Chairman of Naas Racecourse. said. “It's remarkable to look back at all the old photographs of both famous people and horses and it gives all of us here at Naas Racecourse an enormous sense of pride to be part of something very special. Our founding members paved the way for us and it's up to us to keep evolving and to keep adding to our racegoers experience through competitive racing and through the guest experience. Huge thanks to everyone who helped us to bring this book to life, we are delighted with it.”

The Centenary of Naas Racecourse will be available in hardback and can be ordered on the Naas Racecourse website.

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